2018 Pacifica Touring L (gas) Coolant leaking - Dealer can't find the issue

Hi aloric,

We regret to hear of your concerns! We understand how frustrating this may be and that their diagnosis is not the resolution you hoped for. If you feel this is not performing as designed, you are more than welcome to go to another authorized FCA dealership for a second opinion. You may locate one here: https://www.chrysler.com/find-dealer.html. If you do reach out to another, please feel free to send us a private message.

Alex
Chrysler Cares

aloric said:

I had to top it off every month or 1000 miles for the last 8 months. Took it to dealer last week, they did a pressure test and told me no issue. I'm pretty sure this is not normal. View attachment 42502 I owned a few Japan made cars in past and never had to fill up the coolant for years. This van only had 18k miles on it

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I have not noticed my 2018 Pacifica L using any coolant yet. Mine has about 11,000 miles. I would say that the coolant has to be going somewhere. It could be a head gasket leak if you do not see any coolant leaking on the ground. I would do a pressure test on all cylinders to see if a head gasket(s) is bad. Sometimes a pressure test from the cylinders will show air leaking through a head gasket into the coolant system.

Dealer found the leak and fixing it. thanks

Care to share what/where it is leaking?

Coolant tracer dye .thats how you find it

Got my van back home today. They replaced the clamp kit-heater core tubes and core heater.

The core heater was leaking.

Thanks for the update. It's always appreciated when the solution is posted here.

My 2018 had the same problem as my coolant level kept dropping but I never saw anything on the ground.My dealer found the leaks at the clamps and the heater core tubes.They ordered the clamp kit and everything is good to go.Tech said I never saw coolant because there is a belly type tray that the coolant was falling into and when under way it would disperse out of the tray.

Those with the leaking clamps, can you post a photo or diagram where your leak occurred? My Pac is very slowly loosing a small amount of coolant (1 quart over 1 year). I’d like to do a visual inspection of those clamps.


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Nails1 said:

Those with the leaking clamps, can you post a photo or diagram where your leak occurred? My Pac is very slowly loosing a small amount of coolant (1 quart over 1 year). I’d like to do a visual inspection of those clamps.


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Yeah me too. Also, did any of you smell coolant when you put the heat on?

Really no way to get a clear picture from above to see these clamps.When the tech took me back to explain the leak he shined a light to the back of the engine to the firewall.Saw a couple of insulated lines but could not see the clamps.He stated the only way to get a view of the leak was from the underside and being that he did not have it up on the lift that was not going to happen.Also wanted to add that he said only one clamp was leaking but he ordered the full clamp kit and would replace them all.My coolant has not dropped at all since the repair.Kudos to the service dept. at Carson City Dodge.

I have a 2017 Pacifica and I am experiencing this coolant issue. I am also getting a check engine light with a cylinder 4 misfire. Has anyone else experienced this as well?

juzu2 said:

I have a 2017 Pacifica and I am experiencing this coolant issue. I am also getting a check engine light with a cylinder 4 misfire. Has anyone else experienced this as well?

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I had exactly the same issue. Had it to the dealer twice. Second time they switched up the plugs and wires to see if it changed cylinder but the engine light never came back on. I am still loosing coolant and they can’t find leak and pressure test was fine. It has to be going somewhere

juzu2 said:

I have a 2017 Pacifica and I am experiencing this coolant issue. I am also getting a check engine light with a cylinder 4 misfire. Has anyone else experienced this as well?

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Aimbriolo said:

I had exactly the same issue. Had it to the dealer twice. Second time they switched up the plugs and wires to see if it changed cylinder but the engine light never came back on. I am still loosing coolant and they can’t find leak and pressure test was fine. It has to be going somewhere

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Apologies for the frustration you both are experiencing, @juzu2 & @Aimbriolo. If you are willing to address this concern further with your Chrysler dealers, our team here is a private message away and more than willing to escalate a case on your behalf for further support through that process.

Mark
ChryslerCares

Aimbriolo said:

I had exactly the same issue. Had it to the dealer twice. Second time they switched up the plugs and wires to see if it changed cylinder but the engine light never came back on. I am still loosing coolant and they can’t find leak and pressure test was fine. It has to be going somewhere

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what's the oil look like? did the pressure test the cylinder or just the coolant system? also curious if it's leaking somewhere that is so small that when it heats up or cools down it stops leaking

I have the same issue. I can literally smell the coolant when the engine is hot like on a summer day, and both fans are running. It stinks! Yet... my dealer was not able to find a leak nor were they able to smell it. I am perplexed.

Gohawks1224 said:

I have the same issue. I can literally smell the coolant when the engine is hot like on a summer day, and both fans are running. It stinks! Yet... my dealer was not able to find a leak nor were they able to smell it. I am perplexed.

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The odor of coolant in the passenger compartment, most noticeable when the HVAC is operating, particularly in one of the heating and/or defroster modes, is a classic symptom of a leaking heater core (and sometimes it is a hose attaching to the heater core).

Col F said:

The odor of coolant in the passenger compartment, most noticeable when the HVAC is operating, particularly in one of the heating and/or defroster modes, is a classic symptom of a leaking heater core (and sometimes it is a hose attaching to the heater core).

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Thank you. Yes I get that but I do not smell it when they HVAC is on. I will smell it especially during the hot summer months and only when my AC went out (warranty fixed). It was at that time that I discovered it. Funny thing was, my wife pulled next to me one day, while my AC worked, and I smelled the coolant on a hot summer day. I told her that she has a coolant leak thinking how on earth could mine have one already. Turns out, the jokes on me.

One day i'll just simply pull the bottom panels off and look for myself.